The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in New Orleans for 2026 are Edward Hynes Charter School - Lakeview (9.2/10), Homer Plessy Community School (9.1/10), and St Georges Episcopal School (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 62 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
New Orleans has 42 ranked elementary schools, and the gap between the strongest and the average tells an important story. ReNEW Laurel Elementary leads the metro with a 9.7 out of 10 — nearly three points above the citywide average of 6.9 — followed by Homer Plessy Community School at 9.3 and ReNEW Dolores T. Aaron Elementary at 9.0. The field is competitive at the top: 23 schools, more than half of all ranked elementaries, score 7 or higher. That spread means the right choice depends heavily on where you look. Schools vary across neighborhoods in curriculum focus, performance trends, and enrollment options. The table below lets you sort by overall score, academic growth, and other key metrics so you can compare schools on the factors that matter most to your family. Start with the top performers or filter by your area to narrow the list.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.2
- 29.1
- 39.1
- 48.7
- 58.7
- 68.6
- 78.6
- 88.4
- 98.0
- 107.9
All 62 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 62
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Edward Hynes Charter School - LakeviewcharterEdward Hynes Charter School - Lakeviewstudents 727student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 2Homer Plessy Community SchoolcharterHomer Plessy Community Schoolstudents 768student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 3St Georges Episcopal Schoolstudents 211student-teacher ratio 5.3:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 4Ecole Bilingue De La Nouvelle Orleansstudents 268student-teacher ratio 7.2:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 5St Andrew's Episcopal Schoolstudents 120student-teacher ratio 6.0:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 6Lake Forest Elementary Charter SchoolcharterLake Forest Elementary Charter Schoolstudents 654student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 7St Paul's Episcopal Schoolstudents 225student-teacher ratio 8.7:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 8Foundation Preparatory AcademycharterFoundation Preparatory Academystudents 222student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 9Trinity Episcopal Schoolstudents 334student-teacher ratio 6.5:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 10Audubon Charter GentillycharterAudubon Charter Gentillystudents 437student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades Pre-K–7th
- 11Young Audiences Charter SchoolcharterJefferson Parishstudents 1,087student-teacher ratio 17.3:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 12Edward Hynes Charter School - ParkviewcharterEdward Hynes Charter School - Parkviewstudents 516student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Young Audiences at Crocker ElementarycharterYoung Audiences At Crocker Elementarystudents 496student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 14Holy Name of Jesus Schoolstudents 379student-teacher ratio 10.6:1grades Pre-K–7th
- 15Esperanza Charter SchoolcharterEsperanza Charter Schoolstudents 566student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 16Mcmillian's First Steps Cdc / Academystudents 78student-teacher ratio 6.5:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 17The Good Shepherd Nativity Mission Schoolstudents 237student-teacher ratio 9.2:1grades Pre-K–7th
- 18Lafayette Academy Charter SchoolcharterLafayette Academy Charter Schoolstudents 519student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 19Bishop Mcmanus Academystudents 100student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 20Cathedral Montessori Schoolstudents 47student-teacher ratio 5.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 21Calvary Baptist Schoolstudents 52student-teacher ratio 7.4:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 22St Benedict the Moor Schoolstudents 33student-teacher ratio 4.7:1grades Pre-K–4th
- 23Renew Laurel ElementarycharterRenew Scitech Academy At Laurelstudents 649student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 24St Stephen Catholic Schoolstudents 167student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades Pre-K–7th
- 25St John Lutheran Schoolstudents 117student-teacher ratio 10.6:1grades Pre-K–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Louisiana education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Louisiana. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Edward Hynes Charter School - Lakeview
Edward Hynes Charter School - Lakeview
727 students · 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 2% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 7.7
- 2
Homer Plessy Community School
Homer Plessy Community School
768 students · 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 3% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 7.6
- 3
St Georges Episcopal School
211 students · 5.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 1% in Louisiana
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 4
Ecole Bilingue De La Nouvelle Orleans
268 students · 7.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 1% in Louisiana
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 5
St Andrew's Episcopal School
120 students · 6.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 1% in Louisiana
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 6
Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
654 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 7% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 8.5
- 7
St Paul's Episcopal School
225 students · 8.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 2% in Louisiana
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 8
Foundation Preparatory Academy
Foundation Preparatory Academy
222 students · 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 10% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 5.6
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 8.8
- 9
Trinity Episcopal School
334 students · 6.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 9% in Louisiana
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 10
Audubon Charter Gentilly
Audubon Charter Gentilly
437 students · 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–7th
Top 17% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 4.8
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 7.7
Questions
What is the best elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Edward Hynes Charter School - Lakeview is the top-rated elementary school in New Orleans with a composite score of 9.2/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in New Orleans, Louisiana?
New Orleans has 66 elementary schools, including 42 charter schools. Of these, 63 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in New Orleans?
Among 63 New Orleans elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 5.7/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Louisiana).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Louisiana, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Louisiana, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the New Orleans elementary school rankings?
New Orleans has 42 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in New Orleans2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in New Orleans2026 rankings and ratings
- All 116 schools in New OrleansElementary, middle and high
- Louisiana schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings